Trellis



R. J. SMITH April 3, 1934.

TRELLIS Filed June 1, 1952 (20 INVENTOR.

' MATTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT FFHCE.

3 Claims.

This invention relates to trellises adapted for garden and like use, and more particularly to a collapsible trellis.

Fan type and collapsible trellises have been previously proposed which involve the necessity of curving or bowing a plurality of ribs or resilient members which are held in definite spaced relationship by a separating or spacing member. One of the disadvantages heretofore attendant upon such proposals has been the weakening or breaking of said resilient members due to the steps which have been taken to ensure retention of the spreader or spacer member in fixed position. Thus, for example, it has been previously 1 proposed to ensure retention of the spacer and in this manner to obtain a given curved or fanlike effect in the flexible members, by forming a hole or indentation in or notching each flexible strips and inserting therein a spacer, constructed 2 1 of similar material and likewise notched if desired. It will be apparent that a consequent and disadvantageous weakening of the resilient members will take place.

Numerous other proposals of a like character have been made, such, for example, as complicated spreaders or spacers whereby the flexible members may be held in spaced relationship without weakening their strength.

Proposals have likewise been made for uti- 1izing such spreaders or spacers with a plurality of flexible strips bound together at the bottom thereof and to which a driving member or holding stake may thereafter be attached. A

highly undesirable characteristic of such proposals exists, however, in the very nature of the device itself, namely, the multiplicity of elements and parts of which the device is composed and the consequently large number of steps which are entailed in the manufacture, assembly, and utilization of such a trellis.

It is an object of my invention to overcome these and other disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a novel and easily prepared trellis of durable construction.

- Another object of my invention is to produce a highly compact trellis, capable of being transported or stored in a very small space.

A further object of my invention is to provide a trellis capable of wide alteration in artistic form.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent by reference to the following specification wherein the details and preferred embodiments of my invention are described, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure I represents an elevation of the trellis of my invention with the flexible members thereof spread as in use;

Figure II represents a perspective of the spacer and trellis collapsed for storage or shipment;

Figure III represents a side elevation of the collapsed trellis.

Referring more specifically to the several figures of the drawing it will be apparent that according to my invention a single piece of material (1) preferably wood, and approximately square in cross-section, altho it may be of varying forms of cross-section, is so cut as to provide a pointed stake member (4) and a plurality of flexible members (5) capable of being flexed to give a wide variey of fan-like or other forms. The flexible members (5) may be substantially equal in length, as shown in Figure I, and preferably approximately square in cross-section as seen in Figure II to ensure an equal distribution of stress to all cross-sectional units of said members as well as to add to the desirable symmetrical shape of the trellis.

The flexible members (5), as formed, are integral with and in extension of the pointed stake member (4), and in a series of parallel groups, as may be seen at the top of Figure II, for example, and are formed by cutting a rough piece of material (1) in two vertical cuts (7) and thereafter rotating the rough material to an extent whereby two further vertical cuts (6) may be made perpendicularly to the first made slits or cuts. In this manner may be obtained the finished flexible members (5) and by varying the relative position of the cuts (6) and (7) with respect to one another flexible members of differing cross-sections may be obtained as desired, altho I prefer, as indicated in the drawing, to so cut the rough material as to give a series of groups of flexible members of approximately equal and square cross-section.

I have found that considerably greater strength and resiliency of the flexible members (5) may be obtained by slitting or cutting the rough material (1) in such a way that alternate members (5) vary in length as shown. This may be accomplished in various ways, such, for example, as by cutting the slits (6) and ('7) at an angle, i. e. by sawing the slit in such a way that on one side of the rough material (1) the slit extends lower than on the opposite side of the material. In this manner it is possible to obtain alternate long and shorter slits and thus to ensure distribution of stress, when flexed, of each of the flexible members over a considerably larger area.

In order to ensure maintenance of the flexible members in definite spaced relationship, as shown in Figure I of the drawing, a spacer (2) is prepared with a number of holes (8) corresponding to the number of flexible strips (5). The flexible members are inserted in the holes (8) of the spacer member (2) and the member placed at a position which will give the desired fanlike effect, as, for example, that shown by Figure I. The frictional engagement between the surfaces of the flexible members and the spacer, such as at (3), Figure I, ensures positive retention of the spacer in the desired fixed position. A plurality of spacer members may be used, if desired, and varying forms may thus be obtained for my trellis is capable of wide variation without danger of breakage of the resilient members due to a weakening thereof such as hereinbefore referred to.

It will be apparent that according to my invention the numerous steps heretofore attendant upon trellis manufacture have been obviated and a durable, compact, and artistic trellis obtained which may be assembled or collapsed with a minimum of effort and without involving the utilization of a plurality of parts.

Various changes may be made in my invention, such, for example, as in the number of cuts of the member utilized to form the trellis, in the number of resilient members, in the type of spacing or spreading member, or members, or in the shape and form of my trellis, or the like without departing from my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. A collapsible trellis comprising a spacer member, a stake member, and a plurality of flexible members, all of one piece with and emanating from said stake member in a series of parallel groups producible by first dividing the greater part of a single piece of material vertically and thereafter similarly dividing said material also vertically but substantially perpendicularly to the first formed vertical division.

2. A wooden collapsible trellis comprising a spacer member, a stake member, and a plurality of flexible members all of one piece with and emanating from said stake member in a series of parallel groups producible by first dividing the greater part of a single piece of wooden material vertically into three flexible members and thereafter similarly dividing each of said three flexible members also vertically, but substantially perpendicularly to the first formed vertical divisions, into three flexible members.

3. A collapsible trellis comprising a spacer member, a stake member, and a plurality of flexible members all of one piece with and emanating from said stake member in a series of parallel groups producible by first dividing a plurality of times and to varying extents the greater part of a single piece of material vertically and thereafter similarly dividing said material also vertically but substantially perpendicularly to the first formed vertical division.

ROY JASPER SMITH. 

